iChat wont' recognize built in iSight camera for just 1 user (iMac)

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Level 1

1 points

iChat wont' recognize built in iSight camera for just 1 user (iMac)

Having trouble using iChat (v4.0.9) on an iMac (intel, flat panel, 2008 vintage). Used to work just fine, but today discovered that for one user (my kid's user on this mac) video no longer works. Under iChat Preferences > Audio/Video, it says "this computer does not support video conferencing". Using Video > Connection Doctor, it displays "no camera". When logged in as another user on the same mac, iChat works fine, finds the camera and can display a preview, and all looks ok with Connection doctor.

For the affected user, if I open PhotoBooth, the camera can be demonstrated to work just fine. It's only when running iChat and only for the affected user that the problem manifests. How do I correct this problem? Corrupted prefs file perhaps that needs to be trashed ??

iMac 2x 2.4GHz, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Aug 1, 2010 11:23 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Ralph-Johns-UK

Level 9

76,789 points

Aug 1, 2010 3:08 PM in response to ScottPanzer

Hi,

AS the camera works in another Mac User Account and even another Application on the same Mac user it is more likely a corrupt .plist

It will somewhat depend on this Mac User's use of the Internet at the start up of iChat.
At iChat start up iChat "reads" what Internet speed it can get.
This depends on the current activity of the computer and anyone else sharing the same Internet connection (Don't forget WiFi Phones).
It writes this speed to the com.apple.ichat.plist and uses that speed until ichat is Quit.

Restarting iChat is supposed to change it.
Having said that it dos not always happen.

Restarting the computer may solve it.
Try a PRAM reset.
Shut down the computer.
Restart it holding down Apple/CMD (or ⌘)+ALT PR Keys until you have heard three Start Up Bongs.

Lastly if the other have not worked delete the Users com.apple.ichat.plist.
This will be found in that Users Home Folder/Library/Preferences (Place in Trash and restart iChat if Open - this will rewrite the .plist form defaults and a new system check).

I suggest this last as it is somewhat destructive.
It resets anything set in the iChat Preferences
Font Choice
Font Colour
IM Background/Balloon colour.
Any Alerts sounds that have been changed
Any Alert > Apple Scripts that have been set.
Saved Transcripts options.
Menu bar icon in the General Section.
It also loses any Saved Status Messages as well.

Hope this helps.

11:08 PM Sunday; August 1, 2010

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

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Answer 2

ScottPanzer Author

Level 1

1 points

Aug 1, 2010 3:21 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Thanks Ralph. com.apple.ichat.plist was corrupt and trashing it solved the problem. We didn't have alot of saved custom configs that needed to be retained. Restart or parameter RAM reset unfortunately didn't help, but starting with a new .plist did the trick.

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Answer 3

Aug 2, 2010 11:15 AM in response to ScottPanzer

Good to hear.

Thanks for letting us know and

For the points

7:14 PM Monday; August 2, 2010

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

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